Task 12: Speculative Futures

A Speculative Future Poem

Eric wakes up in 2050, his internal clock synced with 4 devices,

His fridge even talks to him, he’s completely reliant on his tech,

Eric’s phone tracks and runs him, he knows these are his vices

He’s trapped in A.I. doomsday, every minute’s like “what the heck?” (Vallor)

Sydney’s A.I. career leaves all humans in the dust, (Vallor)

Oh the tricks, it’s like an extension of our hands and brain,

Sydney gets in her self-driving car--it’s a must,

It’s like 2050 came with all of this sparkle and fame.

Fight, fight, fight it, Eric thinks,

Model 50 Google Home echoes his thoughts back to him,

All he can think is of impending natural disaster, like a flooded rink

It’ll be like the plot of Pacific Rim.

Her grandma would be still alive with the new medical advances,

Sydney says to her Robot co-worker,

They now have emotions and enjoy human dances,

Overpopulation is right around the corner

Eric’s hand chip is tracking him everywhere he goes,

His employer preaching no safety or privacy,

No socialization means he’s stuck with robot foes,

Increase in prejudice and inequality are his woes

Sydney embraces the flashy and automated tech,

More connected than ever to all,

Yet feeling so alone; society strives for this beautiful wreck

Sydney’s future is the one that we don’t want to fall. (Dunne & Raby)

For Eric, the humans are a useless class, (Harari)

2050 is dynamic, as jobs are no longer until the tomb, (Harari)

Upcoming natural disaster impedes the mass,

Eric’s future is speculative doom.